Things on my mind

It fascinates me that people living in different but similar countries are experiencing life so differently at the moment. Someone my age, of similar health in Italy is currently barred from going into shops, bars, restaurants, cinemas or utilising the public transport network if they, like me, have chosen to wait for more information before taking the covid vaccine. I have no idea how we have arrived at this situation - the data is very very clear - the vaccine does not prevent transmission - and yes it undeniably reduces hospitalisation and death in the most vulnerable - BUT most are not vulnerable and their chances of either of those outcomes is so small that we would not look to mitigate such an insignificant risk. If you have a 0.005% risk of something and someone says they can improve that by 95%, your actual risk profile hasn't changed very much. Buying TWO lottery tickets may double your chance of winning - but your absolute chance of winning is still ridiculously LOW! I went on the "anti-vax mandate" rally in support of our NHS staff in London last Saturday. My girlfriend and I arrived at Regents Park tube at midday - joined a lot of NHS staff and supporters before walking down to BBC's Broadcasting House 30 mins later. The crowds swelled and we couldn't budge for the weight of people. The mood was good - lovely people and the message from most the banners etc was very clear - we oppose mandates - we are pro choice & pro bodily autonomy. We walked the length of Regents Street - the crowd was huge - clearly I didn't count everyone but I'm pretty sure it was 100k plus. I'm 48, I've been to major concerts, festivals, sporting events - even stood on the Champs Elysees with a million jubilant France football supporters in 1998 - I understand what a big crowd is. The press reported hundreds....it's disgraceful journalism that this isn't reported fairly. I've really enjoyed Joe Rogan's very open debates with his varied guests. It's maddening to see elements of the media try and coerce Spotify into de-platforming him. There's a reason why he's averaging 11 million views per show vs CNN's 1 million. The MSM would be better advised to open their platforms up to more open debate rather than try cancelling JR. It's pleasing to see Grant Schapps relaxing travel restrictions into the UK. BUT it's maddening to see the unvaccinated being discriminated against still. Recent UKHSA data clearly shows that triple jabbed are catching covid at a higher rate than the unvaccinated - making the current travel rules for that group totally nonsensical. It is not disputed by the pharma industry nor the government that transmission is not impacted by vaccination - and that vax status is no indication of current infection - so why would you test an unvaccinated person before entry and after - yet not test a vaccinated person....it's ridiculous. The rules should be the same for all Israel has this week recorded the highest case rate of any country - the 4th jab rollout in full effect. And France with their strict border controls, mask mandates, vaccine passports etc is seeing a huge spike in cases - yet S Africa with a low vax rate & zero measures in place has seen case rates collapse.... Many people who talked about Ivermectin as a prophylactic/treatment given its known antiviral properties and use with other viruses were called stupid by many people and ridiculed for suggesting "dog de-wormer" - YET this new peer reviewed study seems to suggest that many lives could have been saved if mass adoption of Ivermectin had been actioned. As many of us pointed out early in the pandemic - what would be the harm of trying - it's cheap, safe, readily available - again, people seemingly not understanding risk/reward Pfizer has today announced it's starting trials of its "Omicron specific Covid vaccine" - BUT the government has told us time & time again that the "booster" is very effective in combating Omicron so we MUST get that 3rd jab - which begs the question - IF It is so effective - why the need for a new Omicron specific vaccine - and what's the point if that variant has already proliferated through the nation.... Lastly - I do not care if thirty work colleagues shared some cake for their bosses birthday in the middle of lockdown - IF you were following idiotic draconian guidelines and not seeing anyone then that's on you. You are an adult. Rules & regulations are not hard & fast correct. You can decide what is the correct thing to do. We could be days or weeks away from Russia invading a sovereign nation and the press only care about whether people sang happy birthday to Boris. We look back at history with great distain for those who followed rules we now see as bad & immoral - so take a stand and do what you think the future will judge as right - not what some politician says is right. Be a grown up - stand up & be counted.